PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2024

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, requires additional development due to incomplete notice and potential need for verification of in-service stressor. The case is being remanded for further action.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no current disability meeting VA criteria.,The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus is denied as the maximum schedular rating has been assigned.,The Veteran's claims for PTSD, lumbar spine disability, right lower extremity radiculopathy, right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome (right knee disability), left ankle sprain, and ingrown right great toenail are remanded due to insufficient evidence of a current disability or service connection.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disorder is also remanded as the opinion provided by the VA examiner was inadequate.

The Veteran's hepatitis disability is not established as a current condition. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a finding of a current hepatitis disability.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD and depression due to MST is remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for PTSD with TBI is denied as the current maximum schedular rating of 100 percent has been assigned since August 31, 2017.,The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to August 31, 2017 for a 100 percent rating for PTSD with TBI is denied as the earliest date service connection was granted is August 31, 2017.,The Veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for headache disability is denied as the current maximum schedular rating of 50 percent has been assigned since November 20, 2018.,The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to November 20, 2018 for a 50 percent disability rating for headache disability is denied as the earliest date service connection was granted is November 20, 2018.,The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to August 31, 2017 for SMC based on housebound criteria is denied as he did not meet statutory or housebound-in-fact criteria before that date.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to asbestos exposure, including for PTSD and sleep apnea. The issues are related to hazardous exposures during his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and degenerative arthritis of the right knee, rendered him unable to obtain and maintain substantially gainful employment prior to July 13, 2016. The Board granted a TDIU for this period.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating and TDIU related to PTSD is remanded due to missing private treatment records.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 70 percent since July 25, 2017. The Board finds that the symptoms more nearly approximate a 70 percent rating due to suicidal ideation and other associated symptoms.

The Veteran's appeal for a compensable rating for service-connected bilateral hearing loss has been denied. The Board has also remanded the issues of service connection for low back disorder and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD, Persistent Depressive Disorder, and Anxiety Disorder).

The Veteran's PTSD with TBI is granted a 100% disability rating, and other service-connected disabilities are rated appropriately. The issue of entitlement to TDIU due to service-connected disabilities is dismissed.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased evaluation for migraine headaches has been withdrawn. Service connection for PTSD and adjustment disorder, unspecified, is granted. The denial of a compensable initial disability rating for IgA nephropathy with hypertension remains unchanged. Bilateral plantar fasciitis and cervical spine disability are both remanded for further review.,The Veteran's service connection claim for bilateral plantar fasciitis has been remanded due to unclear findings from the July 2018 VA examination regarding the right foot condition.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining service treatment records and VA medical records. A VA examination is needed to determine if the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, is related to her in-service experiences.

The Board denied an initial rating in excess of 50 percent for the Veteran's acquired psychiatric condition, to include PTSD, prior to November 3, 2017. The evidence showed that symptoms such as depressed mood, anxiety, chronic sleep impairment, and mild memory loss were present but did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's PTSD claim is remanded due to missing hospice care records. The TDIU claim is also remanded as the Appellant has not been notified and a form for her primary care provider needs to be completed.

The Veteran's claims for an acquired psychiatric condition, including PTSD and adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood, as well as a left hand disability, were denied. The denial is based on the lack of credible supporting evidence that the claimed in-service stressors occurred or involved fear of hostile military activity.

The rating from 100% to 30% for PTSD was upheld, and SMC based on housebound status was discontinued effective August 1, 2017.

The appellant requested to withdraw their appeal, and the Board has dismissed it due to lack of jurisdiction.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms prior to January 3, 2020 did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 50 percent. Since January 3, 2020, his symptoms have not met the criteria for a rating in excess of 70 percent.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating of 30 percent for left trigeminal nerve paralysis is granted. The case is remanded for further development regarding service connection for acquired psychiatric conditions, including PTSD.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from engaging in substantially gainful employment, as he is employed and has provided no evidence to support his claim for TDIU.